Geigerrig and Sawyer Mini, using inline

I tried this with a Geigerrig and a Sawyer In-Line 3-Way (the precursor to the original Squeeze; it's the same filter element, just without some of the attachments). Regular Camelbak quick releases will fit into the Geigerrig tubing just fine.

However, after a few (five? maybe?) trips of 2-4 nights each (so, at most, 20 trail days), I found that my bladder had sprung a leak. At that point, I called it a decent test for ~$30, and went over to chemical treatments for most of my water needs (when I base camp with folks who don't have their own treatment stuff, I bring the Sawyer and my Camelbak for convenience).

It's entirely possible that I over-stressed the filter by pumping too much air into the bladder (I recall my old SuperSoaker from when I was eight here…), but I'm pretty hard on my gear. If you're gentle, you'll probably get more life out of the bladder. I still think it would eventually fail, though.

As always, YMMV, but I'd prefer to simply carry a chem treatment, fill, treat, and move on long days.

Thanks John. I think the Geigerrig has a lifetime warranty on leakage, but I'm not too worried about it. I will try not to overpump as you said. Was it the filter or the actual bladder that started leaking?

I forgot about the Sawyer 3 way inline, I might need to pick one of those up.

It was the bag, not the filter that leaked.

I know Geigerrig has a lifetime warranty on their stuff (and I purchased from REI, back before their warranty changes), but I wasn't going to go through the rigamarole for a $30 item when it didn't work for me the first time. It was a worthy test, and it worked okay while it was working. However, I don't want to be reliant upon a system that may give out on me in the middle of an hike.

As always, YMMV, though.

Hey Eli.

I did the PCT in 2012.

I started with a couple bladders, but be warned the desert tore them up within the first week and I was being very gentle. Lots of thorns and sharp things in the desert PARTICULRLY around the few water sources available to hikers. The warranty won't help you carry water for the three days before you get to town!!! LOL. I like the train of thought, because squeezing the sawyer is a real PITA particularly when you are doing it several times a day for 6 straight months, but at the end of the day the simpler system that has fewer points of potential failure will most likely serve you best when you are days outside the nearest resupply.

I switched to regular 1L bottles and never looked back. The other added benefit of hard-sided bottles over bladders is they were easier to fill from the small pools, seeps and cistirns which will make up a majority of your water sources for the first 700 miles.

Good luck!!!

this was my recent adaptation, works FANTASTIC!